As early as the fifteenth century studio potters have used saggars to create decorative ceramic pieces[14[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-13|]]]. In this use saggars are used to create a localised reducing atmosphere[15[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-14|]]], or concentrate the effects of salts, metal oxides and other materials on the surface of their ware.[16[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-15|]]]
Some pots may be carefully prepared for saggar firing. One method creates a smooth surface covered with clay slip, terra sigilata, which responds particularly well to the saggar technique. This slip covering may be burnished to achieve a gloss. Prepared pots are nestled into saggars filled with beds of combustible materials, such as sawdust, less combustible organic materials, salts and metals. These materials ignite or fume during firing, leaving the pot buried in layers of fine ash. Ware produced in filled saggars may display dramatic markings, with colours ranging from distinctive black and white markings to flashes of golds, greens and red tones. Porcelain and stoneware are ideal for displaying the surface patterns obtained through saggar firing. In addition to the use of saggars, some studio potters bundle pots and burnable materials within a heavy wrapping of metal foil.
Beauty...
The following is Tom Rush performing his River Song.
Saggar fired pottery
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Saggars in the Gladstone Pottery Museum
Saggar firing is a technique for the firing of pottery.
Saggars are ceramic, boxlike containers which can be used to enclose or protect ware in kilns. Traditionally saggars were made primarily from fireclay[1[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-0|]]][2[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-1|]]]. Saggars have been used to protect, or safeguard, ware from open flame, smoke, gases and kiln debris[3[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-2|]]]: the name is a contraction of "safeguard"[4[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-3|]]]. Their use is widespread, including in China, Korea[5[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-4|]]], Japan and the United Kingdom. Saggars are still used in the production of ceramics to shield ware from the direct contact of flames and from damage by kiln debris[6[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-5|]]][7[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-6|]]][8[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-7|]]]. Modern saggars are made of alumina ceramic, cordierite ceramic, mullite ceramic and silicon carbide[9[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-8|]]][10[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-9|]]].
A Saggar Maker's Bottom Knocker was a job associated with the manufacturer of saggars in the UK[11[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-10|]]], a name considered sufficiently amusing for it to be featured on the television panel show What's My Line?[12[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-11|]]]. The occupation is not needed with modern automated production techniques[13[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-12|]]].
[edit] Studio pottery use
As early as the fifteenth century studio potters have used saggars to create decorative ceramic pieces[14[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-13|]]]. In this use saggars are used to create a localised reducing atmosphere[15[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-14|]]], or concentrate the effects of salts, metal oxides and other materials on the surface of their ware.[16[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saggar_fired_pottery#cite_note-15|]]]Some pots may be carefully prepared for saggar firing. One method creates a smooth surface covered with clay slip, terra sigilata, which responds particularly well to the saggar technique. This slip covering may be burnished to achieve a gloss. Prepared pots are nestled into saggars filled with beds of combustible materials, such as sawdust, less combustible organic materials, salts and metals. These materials ignite or fume during firing, leaving the pot buried in layers of fine ash. Ware produced in filled saggars may display dramatic markings, with colours ranging from distinctive black and white markings to flashes of golds, greens and red tones. Porcelain and stoneware are ideal for displaying the surface patterns obtained through saggar firing. In addition to the use of saggars, some studio potters bundle pots and burnable materials within a heavy wrapping of metal foil.
Mishima
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajCbcnYb2NU&feature=player_embedded#!
Carving Curved Clay HD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=RV3K07kmcw4&NR=1
Sand on Fire: Work Versus Play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv6p7Yrqr7M&feature=autoplay&list=ULRV3K07kmcw4&playnext=1